The Education News Weekly Roundup is brought to you by Holly Trippett, the Public Relations Intern at Citizen Schools and a senior at Emerson College studying Marketing Communications.Citizen Schools News:

News and Observer - 3/4/12 – 450,000 Await Volunteer Positions – Citizen Schools is mentioned as an organization that works with national service volunteers in Charlotte to help close the achievement gap.

New York Times – 3/3/12 – Confessions of a “Bad Teacher” – A Brooklyn teacher’s interesting reflection on his teaching evaluation from the state and how the label of being a ‘bad teacher’ has affected him and his students.

Chicago Sun Times – 3/4/12 – Longer Public School Day – Done Right – is Essential – This article discusses the importance of lengthening the school day to prepare students for competing in the global economy and specifically mentions the need for a new workforce in Chicago.

Education Week – 3/6/12 – Civil Rights Data Show Retention Disparities – This piece discusses the new information recently collected by the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office that shows wide racial disparities in student retentions, particularly during elementary and middle school years.